Healing Love

Chapter 21

(Jin Ah POV)

Today is my last presentation day before my semester break. My pregnancy just turned 37th weeks yesterday. My baby is growing bigger and bigger every day that I think my tummy will explode anytime now. It's getting harder for me to move as well, as my feet are completely swollen. Jung Hyuk Oppa worried about letting me go to the college as I had a false alarm twice last week, but I insisted as I only left with this final presentation then I can take a break and wait for my baby to come out next month. Since I will be skipping next semester, I really need to secure good grades for this semester subjects.

"Are you sure you are okay to go to class?" he asked me this morning. He looked reluctant to let me go.

I assured him, "It's my last presentation for my last paper this semester. After this, I can have my break. I have prepared for this for a long time, and I need to conclude it, oppa."

"Okay. But let Yoo Jung accompany you to class. You know, just in case you need help."

I laughed at him for his over-concerned attitude. But, after knowing him for almost 8 months, I noticed that he is highly concern about people, and he couldn't hide his caring nature. That is his charm, "I will be okay. Don't worry too much."

"Okay, if you said so. But let me send you until your lecture hall."

"Arasso. I need your help, by the way, because I have so many stuff to bring as part of my presentation," I showed him my stuff for my presentation, and he helped to get it for me.

As discussed, he sent me directly to my lecture hall this morning. The presentation starts at 10, but since he needs to be at the hospital by 9.30, I am already here since 9. There's still 45 minutes left to 10, so I started to review my presentation slides. As I was going through my slides, I feel discomfort in the lower part of my body. I thought it might be because the hard seat in the lecture hall is not comfortable for me to sit with my big belly. So I keep rubbing my back to ease the discomforts. Then I started to feel squeezing pain in my lower abdomen, which I assumed is Braxton hicks. As I had false alarms last week, I think it is the same too, so I just ignore it and continue what I am doing, but the pain keeps coming every 20-30 minutes. 'Oh No, could it be contractions?' I said to myself. Since I already read and ask Jung Hyuk Oppa about the birth process, I know that it will take hours, especially for the first baby. Because of that, I remain calm and continue preparing for my presentation while timing my contractions.

There are 4 of us taking the class, and I will be the last one to present based on the sequence. My contractions continue, and it's getting closer as I was waiting for my turn. I choose not to tell my husband as I don't want to alarm him. I will go to the hospital after this. Min Jung eonnie is out of town for a seminar in Perth for the whole week. Hence she said if any emergency, I am assigned to my husband's hospital.

I try to focus on my work to distract me from the pain though sometimes it is hard because the pain is getting intense. Unlike last week, these cramps feel more pungent and last longer, and I am pretty confident it is real contractions this time.

My turn came up, and I walk to the front slowly with my stuff and begin my presentation when I'm ready. I proceed with my presentation. A strong contraction hits me as I was presenting, making me take a brief stop for a while. The strongest and longest contraction so far. I hold on to my tummy and massage it gently until the pain subsided. I continue my presentation and try to ignore the pain for a while, but the contractions keep coming, and it's getting closer, like every 10-15 minutes apart. I am sweating so much from enduring the pain and try not to get distracted by it.

"Mrs Yoon, are you okay?" One of the lecturers asks me, and I nod. After that, I just continue my presentation until the end and doing my best to answer all the questions. The lecturers seem please with my work.